Expert Warns 2,500-Drone Shows Can Mask Illicit Flights as RF Noise Surges

1 articles · Updated · Fox News · Jul 26

A 2,500-drone show over North Richland Hills, Texas, underscored a wider security problem: crowded event airspace can help unauthorized drones blend into legitimate activity, Cordell Bennigson said.
RF congestion rises during shows because the drones themselves and spectators' phones flood the spectrum, making first-line detection of a malicious aircraft harder in real time.
AI is becoming a key countermeasure, Bennigson said, because it can sift large volumes of wireless data quickly enough to spot unusual patterns or new transmissions amid the clutter.
Radar still matters, but he said it cannot close the gap alone: urban interference and difficulty tracking low-flying first-person-view drones limit its effectiveness against bad actors.
As drones spread beyond entertainment, Bennigson said cities, states, the FAA and event operators will need broader airspace-monitoring systems around stadiums, critical infrastructure and other crowded sites.